Monitoring consumer purchasing behavior for wood furniture before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Monitoring consumer buying behaviors in terms of their preferences and attitudes has been known as an important driver for the success and development of various industries, including a wood furniture manufacturing. The aim of this study was to identify and compare the purchasing behaviors of furniture consumers in the period before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two surveys were conducted in Croatia, the first in April and May 2020 with the assumption that consumer purchasing behaviors will change during the COVID-19 pandemic in the following year and the second one during March 2021. Differences regarding consumer purchasing behaviors and preferences for wood furniture between respondents regarding demographic and economic factors before and during the pandemic were found. The coronavirus pandemic is teaching us all hard lessons about resilience and adaptability, and new opportunities and solutions are essential. Nowadays, it is becoming increasingly important to produce information. Research offers insights into future design and building communication to better meet the information needs of different types of consumers and to more broadly increase the acceptance and appeal of wood furniture in society in the spirit of sustainable and bio-based circular economy.

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Croatian wood products market

This article presents an analysis of the current situation in the Croatian wood products market based on year-on-year indices of production, exports and imports in the wood processing and furniture production sectors. Data for this analysis were collected from the Croatian Chamber of Commerce. The aim of this paper is to find the answer to how the Covid-19 pandemic affected the movements of production, exports and imports in the two main Croatian wood sectors. © 14th International Scientific Conference WoodEMA 2021 - The Response of the Forest-Based Sector to Changes in the Global Economy, Proceedings. All rights reserved.

Production management model in SME's in some South-Central EU countries during pandemic

Small and medium enterprises play a key role in the economy of the European Union as the main generators of employment and economic development. According to the official statistics the EU, more than 98 % of all enterprises are small and medium. Similar situation is among wood processing and furniture manufacturing enterprises in Croatia and Slovenia, two south-central EU countries. In order to be successful, the enterprises have to harmonize various parameters through strategic planning, preparation, organization and decision making. Through the period of global pandemic of Covid-19, small and medium enterprises suffered the most. To be able to survive, they had to reconsider their view on the parameters of production management. This research was trying to establish the way of thinking among managers in SME’s regarding production management parameters and to create the model for production management in small and medium wood processing and furniture manufacturing enterprises. © 14th International Scientific Conference WoodEMA 2021 - The Response of the Forest-Based Sector to Changes in the Global Economy, Proceedings. All rights reserved.

Sustainable Production Management Model for Small and Medium Enterprises in Some South-Central EU Countries

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are main generators of employment and economic development in European Union. In Croatia and Slovenia, SMEs in wood processing (C16) and furniture manufacturing (C31) also play an important role in social cohesion and development of rural areas. The aim of this research was to investigate the current situation in SMEs in wood processing and furniture manufacturing regarding driving parameters of business and production management system in the time of a disturbed market situation caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic. Two different questionnaires in an e-mail survey were used to collect data for this research from companies and from experts in the field of management, production and marketing. Various statistical tests were used using seven driving parameters on data collected from 212 SMEs. Also, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used on the data collected from 20 experts. Results showed that companies in the time of pandemic crisis and during the time of major disturbances in supply chain pay the most attention to their production program and quality of their products, and then to marketing activities and situation on the market. According to the results presented in this research, the management model can help SMEs managers, micro and small enterprises in particular, to improve their decision-making process, make the necessary innovations easier and faster, and maintain the sustainable business and production management system of their companies.